By Xinhua,
Lausanne (Switzerland) : Iraq will compete at the Beijing Olympics in August after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted the ban on the strife-torn nation.
On Tuesday, the Iraqi delegation was cleared to take part in the Beijing Olympic Games after the Iraqi government and IOC reached an agreement at a crisis meeting here at the IOC headquarters.
As the deadline for competitors for all events except athletics passed July 23, the Iraqi delegation will now have only two athletes participating in Olympics – discus thrower Haidar Nasir and sprinter Danma Hussein.
IOC president Jacques Rogge hailed the agreement. “We look forward to see the Iraqi flag in Beijing. I commend the government of Iraq for reaching an agreement that serves the long-term interest of Iraqi athletes,” he said.